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Cognitive Frailty in China: Results from China Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Study
Ma L, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Li Y, Tang Z, Chan P.. Frontiers in medicine, 2017-10-20
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objective Cognitive frailty (CF) refers to the co-occurrence of physical frailty (PF) and cognitive impairment in persons without dementia. We aimed to explore the prevalence and associated factors of CF in China. Method Data were obtained from the China Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Study. A total of 5,708 community-dwelling older adults without dementia were included. CF was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination for the evaluation of cognitive status and the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment-Frailty Index for the evaluation of PF. Participants with both cognitive impairment and PF were classified as having CF. Sociodemographic and clinical history was also collected. Logistic analysis was used to explore the association between the associated factors and CF. Results The overall crude prevalence of CF was 3.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.0-4.0], and the standard prevalence of CF was 2.7% (95% CI = 2.0-3.0). The prevalence of CF was significantly higher in women than men and higher in residents of rural areas than urban areas. Moreover, the prevalence of CF was found to increase with age. Multiple factor analysis showed that depression (OR = 2.462, 95% CI = 1.066-5.687) and hearing impairment (OR = 2.713, 95% CI = 1.114-6.608) were independent associated factors of CF in elderly individuals with PF. Conclusion Our results provide the first empirical evidence of CF in China. We have identified several associated factors with CF which should be considered while assessing older adults. More studies in Chinese population with CF are demanded to confirm with our findings.
Key findings
- Results The overall crude prevalence of CF was 3.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.0-4.0], and the standard prevalence of CF was 2.7% (95% CI = 2.0-3.0).
- The prevalence of CF was significantly higher in women than men and higher in residents of rural areas than urban areas.
- Multiple factor analysis showed that depression (OR = 2.462, 95% CI = 1.066-5.687) and hearing impairment (OR = 2.713, 95% CI = 1.114-6.608) were independent associated factors of CF in elderly individuals with PF.
- Conclusion Our results provide the first empirical evidence of CF in China.
- More studies in Chinese population with CF are demanded to confirm with our findings.
Why it matters
This study estimated the prevalence of cognitive frailty in China and found depression and hearing impairment were associated factors. It describes prevalence and associated factors and does not test any treatment, cure or prevention.
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Study details
- Participants5,708
- Effect size3.3%; 2.7%; OR = 2.462
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 52/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Frontiers in medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Frontiers in Medicine: journal h-index 149 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2017 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 5,708 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 88 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.0 citations a year over 11 year(s) since 2017 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 35 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Piu Chan: h-index 51 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Capital Medical University: institution h-index 643 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 29104866) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2017.00174
- PubMed: 29104866
- Original source →
- Free full text: Frontiers in Medicine →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Ma, L., Zhang, L., Zhang, Y., Li, Y., Tang, Z., & Chan, P. (2017). Cognitive Frailty in China: Results from China Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Study. Frontiers in medicine. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2017.00174
Vancouver
Ma L, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Li Y, Tang Z, Chan P. Cognitive Frailty in China: Results from China Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Study. Frontiers in medicine. 2017. doi:10.3389/fmed.2017.00174. PMID: 29104866.
BibTeX
@article{ma2017-29104866,
author = {Ma, L. and Zhang, L. and Zhang, Y. and Li, Y. and Tang, Z. and Chan, P.},
title = {{Cognitive Frailty in China: Results from China Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Study}},
journal = {Frontiers in medicine},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.3389/fmed.2017.00174},
pmid = {29104866},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2017.00174}
}
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